Corruption beatings and -- federal investigators claim they busted a widespread -- of abuse by deputies inside Los Angeles county's downtown jails some. Members of little. Sheriff's department considered themselves. To be above the law. Eighteen current and former deputies have been charged sixteen arrested. The charges -- a disturbing conduct. That includes assaults. -- inmates and visitors. Fictitious reports. And false arrests designed to cover -- civil rights abuses its own laundry list of accusations including beating and illegally detaining jail visitors. One -- suffered a broken arm. Another was thrown into a refrigerator and locked up for five days without being charged reports were then allegedly fabricated to -- the incidents. When it came to the FBI's probe we allowed and respected the fact that they needed to do it they're on their own. And we we were cooperative we -- we we didn't hold back any thing. -- part of the investigation the feds also relied on an FBI informant in the jail. But when their probe was exposed federal agents say jail deputies tried hiking the informant for everyone including the FBI. Federal investigators say one of the sergeants charged reprimanded deputies who did not use force against those who showed disrespect. Prosecutors must still prove all of these allegations in court. Brandy hit ABC news Los Angeles.

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